Harry Murray

Harry Langren Murray of Las Cruces, NM passed away peacefully at his new casita the morning of January 22, one week after he celebrated his 83rd birthday with family and friends. 

Harry loved his family deeply. He loved his country and served the USA with unwavering devotion. He was always enthusiastic and optimistic, no matter the conditions of life. He was so proud of his family and always wanted to share the family success stories. 

Harry was born January 15, 1943, in Ashville, North Carolina to Charlotte Ernestine (Langren) Murray while his father Harry Ledger Murray was off fighting in WWII. After graduating from high school in Charlotte, NC class of 1960, Harry attended North Carolina State University. Harry graduated from NC State in 1964, earning both a Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering degree and a commission in the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. Upon completing training at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD and Redstone Arsenal, AL; Harry was assigned to White Sands Missile Range, NM as a Missile Test Officer in July 1965. Harry was promoted to captain in 1967 for Guided Missile Officer for the Rocket System Division, Army Missile Test and Evaluation. Throughout Harry’s time in the US Army and his career, Harry was honored with numerous awards and citations including the National Defense Service Medal and The Honorable Order of Saint Barbara from the U.S. Field Artillery Association.

During Harry’s time at White Sands Missile Range in 1966, he met the love of his life, Alice, at a party in El Paso, TX. Alice said, “a little bird whispered in my ear that he was the one I would marry,” and indeed they were married that Christmas Eve in Las Vegas, NV. Upon receiving an Honorable Discharge from the US Army, Harry and Alice moved to Camarillo California, where he started his career in the aerospace industry. Harry worked for Northrop on numerous assignments including the Apollo project. The family then moved to Brentwood Missouri, where Harry worked on fighter jets for McDonnell Douglas corp. After that, they moved to Virginia in 1970 where Harry took a civil service position at Ft. Eustis and worked on projects including the Sikorsky Blackhawk. In 1974, Harry moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona to work on the Lockheed MQM-105 Aquila program at Fort Huachuca. Harry returned to Las Cruces in 1977 to work at White Sands Missile Range where he spent 21 years of distinguished civilian service working on programs like Pershing, MLRS and Army TACMS-BAT.

After retiring in 1998, Harry and Alice started a small business called Spirit Ladders, did some traveling, and delved deeply into his family tree. He traced his roots back to their arrival in the USA, including lineage to Harry Yount, the first official National Park gamekeeper at Yellowstone. Harry wrote about Yount in Vol. 29, Issue 2 of Wild West magazine. Harry and Alice loved traveling the state of New Mexico. El Rancho de Las Golondrinas in Santa Fe was a special place for Harry and Alice, where they dressed in mountain man and woman attire for annual festivals and Harry would often portray and speak as Harry Yount.

After Alice passed in 2023. Harry joined the Sons of the American Revolution and marched in the Veteran’s Day parade in full revolutionary war regalia at the age of 81. He so enjoyed presenting a brief history of the American Revolution (again dressed in full regalia) with fellow members to local K-12 students and hopes that tradition will carry on. He loved reading and speaking about history.No matter where Harry lived in the USA, he never missed a basketball game of his beloved NC State Wolfpack. In the 80’s, Harry drove around with the famous “Phi Slama Jama ain’t worth a Dama” bumper sticker. If you know, you know the game and the legendary coach, Jim Valvano. Harry recently enjoyed a wonderful trip with his sister Sydney to the Grand Canyon, CanyonLands and Zion National Parks and while on that trip, was thrilled to crash the NC State Wolfpack 2024 NCAA Tournament Final Four alumni party held in Phoenix, AZ. Harry was always ready for fun, concerts, and adventure. However, Harry and Alice’s greatest joy came from spending as much time as possible with their two great-granddaughters and an ample supply of four-legged grand dogs.

Harry is preceded in death by the love of his life, Alice L. Murray and his parents, Harry L. Murray and Charlotte E. Dicken. He is survived by his sons Edward Murray (Pamela) of Windermere, FL; Richard Murray (Vickie) of Snowflake, AZ; daughter Shannon Murray (Victor Villalobos) of Las Cruces, NM; sister Sydney Jumper of Chesterfield, MO; Niece Amy Jumper (Zion); granddaughter Jennifer Murray Petracca (Brian); and great granddaughters Savannah and Naomi Petracca of Las Cruces, NM.